When Milwaukee’s public schools faced a lead contamination crisis, a former CDC scientist stepped forward to help. Laid off just weeks earlier in a wave of federal job cuts, he offered his expertise as a volunteer. “While I regret that I’m no longer able to assist in my former government role, my commitment to this public health crisis remains steadfast,” he wrote to the city’s health commissioner. But his offer wasn’t easy to accept. The Trump administration’s mass layoffs in April had placed CDC lead poisoning prevention experts on paid administrative leave, barring them from working—even as volunteers. Commissioner Michael…
Author: Disparity Matters
A recent study reveals troubling racial disparities in how pediatric emergency departments label children with behavioral health flags. Despite similar responses on aggression risk evaluation tools, non-Hispanic Black youths were significantly more likely than their White peers to be flagged as high aggression risk.The study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed over 5,100 mental health-related visits to a pediatric emergency department between 2020 and 2022. While the use of the aggression risk evaluation tool did not differ by race or ethnicity, the outcomes did. Black youths had nearly double the odds of being labeled high risk compared to White youths.…
Federal funding cuts are putting critical breast cancer research at risk—especially studies focused on Black women, who are already 38% more likely to die from the disease than white women. Despite this long-documented disparity, recent policy changes have halted dozens of research grants, including two projects specifically designed to explore breast cancer in Black women.One of those studies, led by Columbia University epidemiologist Adana Llanos Wilson, was investigating how chronic stress contributes to breast cancer risk in Black women. Her project lost $806,000 in federal support. “Halting these studies doesn’t just slow down science, it stalls progress toward justice,” Wilson…
A recent study published in Cancer reveals that historic redlining, a form of structural racism, continues to impact survival rates among young cancer patients. The research analyzed cancer diagnoses in individuals under 40 living in Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, between 2000 and 2019. The study found that young people residing in previously redlined neighborhoods face a significantly higher risk of dying from cancer compared to those in non-redlined areas. The data showed that the five-year survival rate for young cancer patients in redlined neighborhoods was 85.1%, compared to 90.3% for those in other areas. This disparity persisted at the ten-year…
A new study reveals that Florida’s mosquito control system may be reinforcing public health disparities, with wealthier areas receiving better protection against mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, West Nile, and Zika.
The American Heart Association (AHA) has issued a scientific statement highlighting the critical role of sleep health in cardiometabolic health. This statement underscores the multidimensional aspects of sleep, including regularity, satisfaction, alertness, timing, efficiency, duration, disturbed sleep, and sleep architecture. The AHA emphasizes that sleep health is not merely about the number of hours slept but involves a complex interplay of various factors that contribute to overall well-being.Health disparities significantly affect sleep health, particularly among historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. These communities are more likely to experience short sleep duration, poor sleep continuity, less satisfaction with sleep, irregular sleep…
Recent shifts in government policy are creating uncertainty in the hospice sector, particularly concerning health equity. Hospice executives warn that the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives could exacerbate health disparities among underserved patient populations. Victor Couzens, CEO of Mahogany Home Health and Hospice, expressed concerns at the Hospice News ELEVATE conference in Florida, noting that these changes might increase mistrust in the healthcare system and alienate those who need hospice care the most.The establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has focused on eliminating federal DEI programs and reducing government spending. This move, coupled with executive…
A recent study published in Social Science & Medicine highlights the ongoing racial and ethnic disparities in colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality in the United States. Despite advancements in CRC care, Black and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) patients continue to face the highest risks of death from this disease. The research, led by Qi and colleagues, utilized data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry, analyzing trends from 1992 to 2021.The study found that while the overall 5-year cumulative incidence of CRC and all-cause mortality among Black patients has declined, these patients still consistently face higher mortality rates compared to…
A Seattle hospital has successfully eliminated racial disparities in unnecessary cesarean sections (C-sections), a significant achievement in maternal health equity. Published on May 7, 2025, the article in The Seattle Times details how Swedish Medical Center implemented a program to address the higher rates of C-sections among Black and Hispanic women compared to their white counterparts. The initiative focused on standardizing care and reducing biases in clinical decision-making.The program included training for healthcare providers on implicit bias, revising clinical guidelines to ensure consistent care, and closely monitoring C-section rates by race and ethnicity. These efforts resulted in a dramatic reduction…
A bipartisan group of senators has raised alarms over recent cuts to the federal health care workforce, warning that these reductions are jeopardizing the health of Native Americans and other beneficiaries of Indian Health Services (IHS). Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) expressed their concerns in a letter to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., highlighting the disproportionate disease burdens faced by American Indians and Alaska Natives.The senators emphasized that HHS is obligated to provide health care to approximately 2.8 million Native Americans, a population that already experiences significant health disparities. Despite some exemptions for…